AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to education funding.

Propose a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to authorize the General Assembly to provide for a financial support for the education of students outside of the public school system; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection. House Committee Substitute (1)

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2024 - Delivered to Secretary of State

  NEWS STORIES

4/15/2024 - Kentucky legislature votes Monday to confirm new education commissioner

4/1/2024 - Kentucky legislature pauses for veto period: 5 takeaways from a busy legislative session

3/22/2024 - Two constitutional amendments will be on the November ballot, more possible

3/15/2024 - Can public tax dollars go to private schools? Kentuckians will answer on November ballot

3/15/2024 - Senate passes school funding amendment bill, Safer Kentucky Act

3/15/2024 - School choice approved while anti-DEI takes another step in Kentucky General Assembly

3/14/2024 - Kentucky House approves ‘school choice’ amendment despite bipartisan opposition

3/14/2024 - KY Gov. Beshear slams ‘school choice’ as Senate committee OKs amendment bill

3/14/2024 - Kentucky governor ready to campaign against school choice measure if it reaches fall ballot

3/13/2024 - School choice amendment bill passes House

3/13/2024 - 'We are boxed in here': After tense debate, 'school choice' bill passes Kentucky House

3/13/2024 - Kentucky moves a step closer to funding private school tuition

3/12/2024 - KY ‘school choice’ amendment advances, would allow tax dollars for private, charter schools

3/12/2024 - Republican-led House panel in Kentucky advances proposed school choice constitutional amendment

3/12/2024 - In surprise meeting, Kentucky lawmakers push controversial ‘school choice’ bill

3/12/2024 - Kentuckians would vote on putting public money into private schools under bill that moved from committee

3/4/2024 - Taxes, school choice & voting: All the KY constitutional amendments proposed in 2024

2/28/2024 - Kentucky voters may get a chance to change the state constitution this fall. Here's how

2/12/2024 - How Kentucky’s Republican-led legislature is changing the face of state law

1/29/2024 - ‘School choice’ bill backed by GOP leadership would allow Ky. to fund private, religious schools

1/26/2024 - School choice measure will reach Kentucky’s November ballot, key lawmaker predicts

1/26/2024 - Kentucky House GOP leader files ‘school choice’ bill to amend state constitution

1/26/2024 - Constitutional amendment to use public money for non-public schools proposed in KY House

1/26/2024 - Funding for charter schools in Kentucky? New bill with GOP support would let voters decide

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes HB2 as it will take public tax dollars to fund private schools. We believe the answer to improving education is properly funding and resourcing public schools that are accessible to all. We will continue to speak out against bills that continue to put barriers in education. We are asking that our supports use their platforms to do the same and contact their legislators in opposition of these bills.

AN ACT relating to postsecondary education and declaring an emergency.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual's religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from influencing the composition of the student body or scholarship recipients on the basis of religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from implementing a student housing assignment plan on the basis of religion, race, color, or national origin with designated exceptions; from expending any resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the promotion of discriminatory topics, or bias incident investigations; from soliciting statements on an applicant's experience with or views on religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from requiring a course or training on diversity, equity, and inclusion or discriminatory concepts as a program requirement; and from permitting credit from a course dedicated to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion or discriminatory concepts to count towards the total number of credits required for a degree or certificate, or disseminating or profiting from any research, work product, or material that promotes or justifies discriminatory concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion; establish exclusions; require each governing board of a public postsecondary education institution to amend the institution's policy on nondiscrimination to include a clause on ideological neutrality that prohibits institutional discrimination on the basis of an individual's political or social ideology; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from requiring or encouraging any individual to endorse or condemn a specific political or social ideology or make any inquiry into the political or social ideology of students, faculty, and staff or from providing preferential or prejudicial consideration or treatment to an individual on the basis of that individual's actual or perceived political or social ideology; prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual's religion, race, sex, color, or national origin or from expending any resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion or discriminatory topics; establish exclusions for legal compliance; require each governing board of a public postsecondary education institution to ensure compliance with specific sections of this Act no later than June 30, 2024; require the council and institutions to collaborate on a standardized procedure to consider denying transfer credit earned in courses dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and to develop data collection and reporting methods; authorize the Attorney General to bring an action for a writ of mandamus to compel the council or a public postsecondary education institution to comply; create a cause of action to permit a qualified individual to file a civil action against council or a public postsecondary education institution for injunctive relief and damages arising from a violation of this Act; waive sovereign and governmental immunity; prohibit retaliation; require each public postsecondary education institution to submit and publish a certified annual report on governmentally mandated discrimination to the Legislative Research Commission by October 1 each year; provide that a public postsecondary education institution or the council cannot claim a federal, state, judicial, contractual, or accreditation mandate as a defense to a civil action filed under this Act unless the policy, practice, or procedure upon which the complaint is founded is listed and clearly and accurately described in the public institution's annual report on governmentally mandated discrimination; require the council to develop and publish an annual assessment to evaluate intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity at public postsecondary education institutions; require each institution to annually distribute the assessment to all students, faculty, and staff and publish the results; require each public postsecondary education institution to provide the Personnel Cabinet and State Treasurer the name, job title, duty station, salary or wages, and amount of any contracted severance or other form of post-employment compensation of each employee of the institution by the twentieth day of each month beginning January 1, 2025, and to post its itemized annual budget; amend KRS 164.020 to prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from approving a degree, certificate, or diploma program that is not aligned with Section 2 of this Act; direct the Council on Postsecondary Education to consider alignment with Section 2 of this Act when considering the elimination of an existing program; direct each public postsecondary education institution and the Council on Postsecondary Education to discontinue designated programs and follow designated procedures when implementing this Act; provide specific instructions for public postsecondary education institutions and the Council on Postsecondary Education to follow in implementing this Act; direct public postsecondary education institutions and the council to submit a report on implementation of this Act; require public postsecondary education institutions to submit a series of reports on historical employment data for diversity, equity, and inclusion employees; EFFECTIVE, in part, February 1, 2025; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/14/2024 - floor amendments (1), (2) and (3) filed

  NEWS STORIES

4/18/2024 - As GOP divisions roil Congress, Kentucky legislative leaders maintain control ? mostly

4/15/2024 - Kentucky’s anti-DEI higher ed bill dies a second time

4/1/2024 - Kentucky legislature pauses for veto period: 5 takeaways from a busy legislative session

3/29/2024 - Kentucky's 'anti-DEI' bill appears dead after GOP lawmakers miss veto deadline

3/29/2024 - College DEI programs survive as clock runs out on KY Republican supermajority

3/17/2024 - House passes amended Senate bill targeting DEI on college campuses

3/15/2024 - School choice approved while anti-DEI takes another step in Kentucky General Assembly

3/15/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers advance stricter version of anti-DEI bill. Here's what it would ban

3/15/2024 - GOP Kentucky House votes to defund diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities

3/15/2024 - With bill sponsor absent, House committee expands Senate curbs on diversity in higher education

3/15/2024 - One step closer: Bill banning DEI in Kentucky colleges nears final passage

3/15/2024 - KY university DEI policies are unconstitutional, GOP attorney general says

3/8/2024 - Anti-DEI bills raise concerns among NKU students, faculty

2/22/2024 - As Kentucky lawmakers go after college DEI, Black UK students share their own experiences

2/19/2024 - Several organizations sign letter opposing anti-DEI bills

2/16/2024 - UK president to legislature: Proposed DEI, tenure legislation is ‘deeply concerning’

2/14/2024 - KY Democrats denounce ‘dangerously confused’ anti-DEI bill that passes Senate

2/14/2024 - UK president to legislature: Proposed DEI, tenure legislation is ‘deeply concerning’

2/9/2024 - DEI, new degrees, tenure: What’s the status on higher education bills filed in Kentucky?

2/8/2024 - Anti-DEI bill clears KY Senate committee. Official testifies lawmakers misunderstand DEI

1/25/2024 - UK’s Eli Capilouto on ‘responsibility to advance Kentucky,’ DEI, health care, more

1/19/2024 - Kentucky lawmaker wants to ban race-based scholarships, defund colleges' diversity programs

1/19/2024 - Proposed bill: No more DEI offices, ‘differential treatment’ of students at KY’s public colleges

AN ACT relating to student resiliency and well-being.

Create a new section of Chapter 158 to establish the Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being within the Kentucky Department of Education to gather and compile data, coordinate training, and monitor the numbers and types of mental health professionals in schools; amend KRS 158.4416 to include the definition of "student resiliency and well-being approach"; remove the definition of "trauma-informed approach"; make conforming changes; require the resiliency and well-being team to compile their activities to be used in the creation of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and Comprehensive District Improvement Plan and submit the information to the Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being; amend KRS 158.191 to require a school district to allow a parent to decline their student's participation in well-being questionnaires rather than requiring parental consent for the student to participate; amend KRS 156.095 to require schools to provide an opportunity for any student who missed the suicide prevention awareness lesson to receive the lesson at a later time; make conforming changes; amend KRS 158.443 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/2/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports providing additional resources for student mental health and well-being.

AN ACT relating to KEES scholarships for students attending noncertified schools.

Amend KRS 164.7874 to include an equivalent score on the Classic Learning Test as a KEES supplemental amount; define "eligible noncertified school graduate"; amend definitions of "KEES award," "KEES award maximum," and " KEES base amount" for an eligible noncertified school graduate; amend KRS 164.7879 to establish an equivalent grade point average for eligible noncertified school graduates based on the graduate's ACT score; amend KRS 164.7884 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/2/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to English language learners.

Amends KRS 158.6455 to create a tiered implementation of English language learners into the accountability system.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/3/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to school personnel.

Amend KRS 161.155 to require school districts to provide a teacher or other employee leave with no loss of income or benefits for 60 school days following an assault against the teacher or employee that results in a physical injury; specify the terms of the leave; require the school district to pay for mental health services of the teacher or employee's choosing during the leave period; amend KRS 158.150 to require a local board of education to adopt a policy requiring expulsion when a student physically assaults or batters school personnel; provide that the policy may permit case-by-case modifications with the consent of the victim; permit the safety of school personnel to be a factor in issuing suspensions and expulsions of primary school students; amend KRS 158.154 to remove the requirement that a physical injury be serious to require a principal to report an assault to law enforcement; amend KRS 158.155 to require mandatory reporters to report assault, battery, or abuse of school personnel or students on school property.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/3/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to menstrual discharge collection devices and making an appropriation therefor.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require each public school that includes any of grades six through 12 to provide free menstrual discharge collection devices to students; require each local board of education to adopt policies for the distribution of free menstrual discharge collection devices; define "menstrual discharge collection devices"; amend KRS 139.010 to define "menstrual discharge collection devices"; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt from sales and use tax the sale or purchase of menstrual discharge collection devices; APPROPRIATION; EFFECTIVE August 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/4/2024 - Introduced

  NEWS STORIES

2/21/2024 - Advocates hold Menstrual Lobby Day in Frankfort

1/9/2024 - LIST: Key and noteworthy bills in the 2024 Kentucky legislature

1/9/2024 - LIST: Key and noteworthy bills in the 2024 Kentucky legislature

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports HB148 because its success will ensure students do not have to worry about access to resources while menstruating. We will continue to monitor and report on the movement of this bill. We are asking our supporters to continue to check in for updates.

AN ACT relating to dyslexia.

Amend KRS 158.307 to require rather than allow local boards of education to develop policy on dyslexia; require rather than allow the policy to include listed items; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs to include instruction on dyslexia by the 2025-2026 school year, rather than the instruction being contingent on funding availability.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/4/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports HB158 and ensuring educators are prepared to reach a variety of learners.

AN ACT relating to school meals at low-income schools and making an appropriation therefor.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Proud School Match Program; direct the Department of Education to reimburse an eligible school district $0.33 for every meal reimbursed by the community eligibility provision at the paid rate; require a school district that receives a reimbursement to develop and implement a Kentucky Proud school plan to identify and purchase available Kentucky-grown agricultural products and to optimize food usage; direct the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out this section; provide that the section shall be null and void if the community eligibility provision is terminated by the United States Department of Agriculture; provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Proud School Match Act; APPROPRIATION.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/8/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to materials, programs, or events alleged to be harmful to minors.

Amend KRS 158.192 to require the local board of education to allow parents and guardians an opportunity to orally recite passages from materials, programs, or events subject to appeal; require immediate removal of the material, program, or event if the board denies a parent or guardian the opportunity to orally recite passages.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/29/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Education (H)

  NEWS STORIES

2/19/2024 - Several organizations sign letter opposing anti-DEI bills

1/26/2024 - House Republicans removed from committees last year have assignments restored

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes the Material Harmful to Minors bill because it may empower ill-intended censorship of school material. We will continue to monitor the movement of this bill and support the efforts of the Diversity, Equity and Poverty office of JCPS.

AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 183 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to education funding.

Propose to amend Section 183 of the Constitution of Kentucky to authorize the General Assembly to provide for a portion of the educational costs of students outside of the public school system with parents of limited financial means; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2024 - floor amendment (1) filed

  NEWS STORIES

1/26/2024 - Constitutional amendment to use public money for non-public schools proposed in KY House

1/26/2024 - Funding for charter schools in Kentucky? New bill with GOP support would let voters decide

1/11/2024 - Kentucky lawmaker files bill to allow government funding of private schools

1/9/2024 - Constitutional Amendment to allow Ky. to fund non-public schools introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League opposes amending the constitution to take public school funding to private or charter schools due to our support of public education which needs more funding and not less.

AN ACT relating to a supplemental payment for recipients of a monthly retirement allowance from the systems administered by the Kentucky Retirement Systems, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.

Appropriate $95 million from the budget reserve trust fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to fund one-time supplemental payments on July 1, 2024, to recipients of a retirement allowance from the Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS); specify that the one-time supplemental payment shall be equal to the monthly payment received by the recipient in the month of June 2024; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/9/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports efforts to get educators properly compensated. We will continue to monitor and support the progress of this bill.

AN ACT relating to higher education finance and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 164.746 to modify the membership of the governing board of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; amend KRS 164A.050 to modify the membership of the governing board of the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation; amend KRS 164A.055 to authorize the Asset Resolution Corporation to engage in student loan activities; remove references to administration by the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/7/2024 - (H) recommitted to committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H)

AN ACT relating to constitutional freedoms at public postsecondary education institutions.

Amend KRS 164.348 to define "institution," "public," and "staff"; require an institution to adopt a policy to not restrict off-campus speech; extend free speech protections to the public; provide that student religious and political organizations shall be afforded equal access to facilities; provide that authority vested with a student organization to distribute student organization funding shall be contingent on viewpoint-neutral distribution of those funds; reduce institution's authority to establish permit requirements; specify how an institution defines student-on-student harassment; waive immunity for claims brought under the Act; permit disciplinary action against a faculty member or administrator that knowingly and intentionally restricts the protected speech of another; suspend the distribution authority of a student organization that does not distribute student organization funding in accordance with the Act; prohibit retaliation against campus community members; require Council on Postsecondary Education to develop free speech instructional materials and model trainings for institutions; require institutions to present free speech instructional materials and trainings to designated individuals; require institutions to publish semiannual student organization funding reports; designate the required contents of the semiannual student organization funding report; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to limit the jurisdiction of an institution over associations, groups, or organizations not affiliated with the institutions.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/10/2024 - Introduced

  NEWS STORIES

2/19/2024 - Several organizations sign letter opposing anti-DEI bills

1/15/2024 - Diversity, tuition and AI: Lawmakers look to legislate higher education

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes HB224 due to the attempt to prevent postsecondary institutions from setting a standard for cultural and social competency for those who choose to be a part of said institutions.

AN ACT relating to education.

Amend KRS 158.645 to change the required learning capacities of Kentucky public school students; amend KRS 158.6451 to provide that schools shall expect a high level of academic achievement and shall develop students' ability to think critically and independently; amend KRS 156.010 to include career and technical education; amend KRS 160.345 to remove the reporting requirement relating to physical activity of students; amend KRS 157.065 to remove the reporting requirement relating to participation in breakfast programs; amend KRS 424.250 to reflect that school boards are tax levying authorities and do not file budgets with the county clerk; require district budgets to be published in the same manner as school financial reports; repeal KRS 157.061 and 158.856.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2024 - (H) recommitted to committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H)

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes SB225 due to its redundancy and lack of tangible resources to assist schools in promoting student success. We are asking that you stay engaged with the progress of this bill and updates on action around it.

AN ACT relating to school districts.

Amend KRS 160.041 to provide a merger process for contiguous school districts; require the Kentucky Board of Education to determine the terms of merger for an insolvent district if no agreement between the school districts can be reached; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate regulations regarding mergers due to insolvency. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions; specify that a majority of voters in each school district is required.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/8/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

AN ACT relating to teachers.

Amend KRS 158.060 to require teachers to be compensated for noninstructional planning time within their school day during which they are required to supervise or instruct students; amend KRS 164.787 to expand the program eligibility of the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program to include a program that leads to a bachelor's degree in education in a critical shortage area.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/10/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League supports compensating teachers for covering classes to address the teacher shortage.

AN ACT relating to public postsecondary education institutions.

Amend KRS 164.020 to prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from raising tuition for a postsecondary education institution more than 5% a year for resident students and 7% a year for nonresident students; provide a 4-year tuition freeze for an enrolled resident student; require an institution to notify a student before expiration of a tuition freeze; require any increase in tuition or fees to be approved before March 1; amend KRS 164.131 to add 2 additional full-time student members to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, including 1 graduate student; remove language regarding initial appointments; amend KRS 164.821 to add 2 additional full-time student members to the University of Louisville Board of Trustees, including 1 graduate student; remove language regarding initial appointments; amend KRS 164.321 to add 2 additional full-time student members to the boards of regents, including 1 full-time graduate student; remove language regarding initial appointments; amend KRS 164.7874 to require a private postsecondary institution to have a voting student member on its governing board in order to be a participating institution for purposes of KEES eligibility; provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Student Tuition Protection and Accountability Act; EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2028.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/10/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports efforts to eliminate barriers for students to access higher education. We will continue to monitor and support the progress of this bill.

AN ACT relating to historical instruction.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require African history instruction in certain middle and high school world history and civilization courses; require Native American history instruction in certain middle and high school United States history courses; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations establishing academic standards for the required historical instructions; require superintendents to adopt curricula for required instruction; require the Department of Education to collaborate with the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission to develop recommended curricula and instruction guidelines for the required historical instruction, elective high school course offerings in African history and Native American history, and relevant professional development materials.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/10/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports efforts to decolonize curriculum and the creation of historical accurate and inclusive courses.

AN ACT relating to higher education.

Amend KRS 164.020 to abolish the Council on Postsecondary Education and transfer authorities and duties to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; amend KRS 164.746 to add three student members to the board of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; amend various sections of KRS Chapters 164, 164A, 165, 165A, 168, 171, 183, 200, 210, 214, 309, 367, 11A, 12, 18A, 42, 56, 61, 63, 64, 138, 151B, 154, 156, 157,158, 160, and 161 to conform; repeal KRS 164.011, which created and established the Council on Postsecondary Education; dissolve the Council on Postsecondary Education and transfer personnel, records, files, equipment, and funds to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; make technical corrections.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/16/2024 - Introduced

  NEWS STORIES

2/9/2024 - DEI, new degrees, tenure: What’s the status on higher education bills filed in Kentucky?

1/17/2024 - CPE ‘not aware’ of bill that would dissolve it before the legislation was filed

1/16/2024 - Lawmaker filing bill to disband council that oversees Kentucky higher education

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League will continue to monitor the progress. We support the inclusion of students voices in post-secondary decisions.

AN ACT relating to full-day kindergarten.

Amend KRS 158.060 to remove language that allows for half-day kindergarten programs; amend KRS 157.320 and 157.360 to remove references to kindergarten full-time equivalent pupils in average daily attendance for program base funding purposes; amend KRS 158.030 to conform; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/16/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes HB279 due to the limits it puts on institutions to address the teacher shortage while not offering any additional resources or solutions.

AN ACT relating to the profession of education.

Amend KRS 161.120 to require the Education Professional Standards Board to promulgate administrative regulations that establish the process and procedures for receiving and processing a complaint against a certificate holder; establish a specific timeline; establish specific action the board may take; require confirmation of receipt of responses or correspondences to the board from a certificate holder; require the board to provide confirmation of receipt to superintendents who submit a report to the board and provide specific notices; establish a specific timeline for a hearing for admonishment, remove the option for a hearing to be conducted by the board or a panel of three members of the board; require that the hearing provide all the due process rights afforded under KRS Chapter 13B; allow an appeal of a final order of the board to be filed in the Circuit Court of the county in which the certificate holder resides; RETROACTIVE to pending complaints filed with the board; EMERGENCY. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except remove references to administrative regulations; revise complaint review timeline; provide for deferral for certain investigations by state agencies and teacher tribunals; require hearing officers to be provided by the Attorney General's office; allow appeals to be filed in Circuit Court of the county in which the certificate holder was employed when the incident occurred; remove noncodified language and emergency clause. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except amend to change the number of days required for various provisions, require a timeline to start upon a completed complaint, and provide the Education Professional Standards Board with the options for hearing officers established under KRS 13B.030.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/18/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/28/2024 - Kentucky legislation aims for swift resolution of teacher administrative complaints

2/14/2024 - Ky. lawmaker says bill would no longer require state to drop pending educator misconduct cases

2/1/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers failed to address teacher sex abuse last year. Will they in 2024?

1/30/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers want to speed up investigations into educator misconduct

AN ACT relating to school lunches.

Amend 160.345 to require a school council to adopt a policy requiring students to be assigned a lunch period of at least 30 minutes in length; amend KRS 158.153 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/18/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports HB301 because it would require students receive 30 minutes for lunch everyday. We will continue to monitor and support the progress of this bill and ask that our supporters do the same.

AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 158.191 to ensure parental rights and involvement by requiring notification within two business days of specific events; require a district to adopt procedures that both encourage students to speak with parents and require facilitation of the discussion with parents; forbid a district or school from adopting policies that keep any student information confidential from parents or refuse information requested by a parent with specific exceptions; forbid a district from requiring school personnel or students to use nonconforming pronouns for any individual instead of just students, establish the type of mental health services that the section does not prohibit a district from seeking for students; amend KRS 158.1415 to prohibit a child in any grade level from receiving instruction on a specific topic a parent has provided written notice to the school asserting an objection due to religious or moral beliefs; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to establish a cause of action for violations; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to prohibit a disciplinary action or adverse employment action for an employee informing a parent of specific information about a student or declining to use a pronoun or title inconsistent with the individual's biological sex; amend KRS 158.193 to establish that a school employee may participate in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer when invited to do so; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/25/2024 - floor amendment (2) filed

  NEWS STORIES

1/25/2024 - New bill would undo Kentucky’s gender-affirming health care ban. It faces a big hurdle

1/19/2024 - Kentucky GOP bill would require schools to tell parents if their kids are transgender

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes this bill and those like it that are dangerous to student mental health and well-being and would allow for ill-intentioned censorship of class material. We are asking that our supporters stay engaged with the movement of this bill and to contact legislators regarding opposition referencing the potential dangers this could cause for students.

AN ACT relating to maternity leave for teachers.

Amend KRS 161.155 to require school districts to provide up to 40 days of maternity leave to teachers without a deduction of salary; require accrued sick leave to be taken first and concurrently; allow a teacher to reserve up to 30 days of sick leave; amend various sections of KRS to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports HB366 as it will provide teachers with much needed family leave. Lack of professional benefits is contributing to the teacher shortage and this bill would be a step to address this. We will continue to monitor and support the progression of this bill and ask our supporters to do the same.

AN ACT relating to curriculum.

Amend KRS 156.160 to require public middle and high school curriculum to include instruction on the history of racism.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports this call to change in curriculum as we believe that education should progress with time. We will continue to support this bill and those similar, and are asking that our supporters use their platforms to support as well.

AN ACT relating to educational cooperatives.

Amend KRS 160.290 to provide that all statutes and administrative regulations that apply requirements or restrictions to school districts also apply to an interlocal cooperative board created by two or more school districts; provide that the Kentucky Board of Education has the management and control of interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.255 to define interlocal cooperative board; amend KRS 156.265 to extend school district audits to include interlocal boards; amend KRS 156.275 to comply; amend KRS 156.285 to authorize the accountant to access the financial records of interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.295 to state that it is a misdemeanor to prevent or obstruct an audit of an interlocal cooperative board.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to education.

Amend KRS 161.030 to specify authority of Education Professional Standards Board over educators hired by public schools only; amend KRS 199.894 to define "learning pods" and exclude them from the definition of "child-care center" and "family child-care home"; amend KRS 194A.381 to exclude learning pods from certain youth camp requirements.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to the Child Care Assistance Program.

Create a new section of Subchapter 12 of KRS Chapter 154 to define "in-demand industry sector" and "in-demand occupation"; require the Cabinet for Economic Development to create annual lists of in-demand industry sectors and in-demand occupations and transmit the lists to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for use in determining eligibility criteria for the Child Care Assistance Program; amend KRS 199.894 to define "Child Care and Development Fund" and "Child Care Assistance Program"; make technical corrections; create a new section of KRS 199.892 to 199.896 to exempt applicants whose occupation or industry sector has been designated as in-demand from the income guidelines and copayment requirements for the Child Care Assistance Program.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to preschool and kindergarten education.

Amend KRS 157.3175 to require school districts provide a full-day preschool education program for eligible three and four-year-olds; establish eligibility for the program; require that preschool for three year old children continue to be funded through a grant process and preschool programs for four-year-old children be funded under KRS 157.310 to 157.440; require preschool programs to operate on the school district calendar; require transportation be provided; amend KRS 158.031 to include preschool education programs for four-year-old children in the primary school program; amend KRS 157.320 to remove the definition of "kindergarten full-time equivalent pupil in average daily attendance"; amend KRS 157.360 to remove a reference to the kindergarten full-time equivalent; amend KRS 158.030 to include a preschool education program for four-year-old children in the definition of "common school"; remove language allowing kindergarten to operate for less than six hours on a school day; amend KRS 158.060 and 160.1596 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League Supports HB 424 because it establishes funding and will provide transportation for early childhood programs. We will continue to monitor and support this bill and ask that our supporters use their platforms to do the same.

AN ACT relating to children's early learning services taxing districts.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 65 to authorize the establishment of children's early learning services taxing districts; define terms; provide a method and alternative method for the creation of each district and the funding of the district to be set at a maximum of 10 cents per 100 dollars of assessed property valuation; specify the board membership; require compliance with special purpose governmental entity reporting requirements; establish oath and expenses for directors; allow the employment of an attorney for the board; establish the authorities of the district; specify dissolution of the district and withdrawal of membership of cities and counties that are a part of the district.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to the Kentucky opportunity fund and making an appropriation therefor.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 164A to establish within the State Treasury a fund to be used to make contributions to Kentucky opportunity accounts; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to share information with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; amend KRS 141.019 to exclude earnings from Kentucky opportunity accounts from adjusted gross income; amend KRS 205.200 to provide that ownership or activity of a Kentucky opportunity account shall not be used when conducting means-based testing for eligibility for public assistance programs.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Introduced

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports bills that create sustainable pathways to fund access to education across Kentucky. We will continue to monitor and support the progress of this bill, and we are asking that our supporters do the same.

AN ACT relating to Kentucky educational excellence scholarships.

Create a new section of KRS 164.7871 to 164.7885 to allow the use of K educational excellence scholarship funds for dual credit courses; require Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the section; amend KRS 164.7885 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to public school transportation.

Amend KRS 158.110 to require local school boards to adopt a transportation services policy; amend KRS 158.148, relating to school district discipline guidelines, to require the Kentucky Department of Education to create a model transportation services policy; detail required provision of local board transportation services policies; create process for operators of transportation to report, be heard during proceedings, and receive a response regarding misconduct by students aboard transportation and also by parents or guardians; permit revocation of transportation privileges based on failure to acknowledge transportation services policy; amend KRS 158.445 to require inclusion of the transportation services policy in district safety plans. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except remove ability of transportation provider to temporarily remove pupil from transportation based on parent or guardian misconduct; require additional language within transportation services policy regarding potential criminal violations for misconduct related to transportation. House Floor Amendment (1) State that any action under this section related to students with disabilities shall be in compliance with applicable federal law.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/22/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/1/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers pushing plan for school bus discipline -- for students and parents

2/27/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers hope school ‘van’ drivers will be easier to find

2/20/2024 - Bill addressing student behavior on school busses clears House committee

AN ACT relating to the transportation of students and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 156.153 to permit school districts to use district-owned, leased, or contracted passenger transportation vehicles to transport students to and from school and approved school activities under an alternative transportation plan approved by the Kentucky Department of Education; provide that vehicles shall be operated by an employee or contractor of local school district that is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within the Commonwealth; provide that the Kentucky Department of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations to establish minimum standards and specifications for an alternative transportation plan; amend KRS 160.380 to require the driver of any non-school bus passenger vehicle authorized to transport students to and from school pursuant to the alternative transportation plan submit to an annual national and state criminal background check and clear CA/N check; require certain traffic offenses or arrests to be reported to the superintendent; amend KRS 156.990 to provide that an individual who operates a school bus or non-school bus passenger vehicle to transport a student or students without a current valid license to operate that motor vehicle within the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class D felony; EMERGENCY. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, require drivers of non-school bus passenger vehicles to submit to drug testing that aligns with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 40; reduce state and federal background check requirements for non-school bus passenger vehicle drivers. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except require the notification from drivers of non-school bus vehicles to the superintendent of designated charges and convictions to be immediate. Senate Floor Amendment (2) Maintain original provisions, except remove any restrictions or requirements for individual to use a non-school bus passenger vehicle to transport students to approved school activities.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/4/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/1/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers pushing plan for school bus discipline -- for students and parents

2/27/2024 - Bill proposed to offer solution to JCPS busing issues passes Kentucky House committee

2/27/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers hope school ‘van’ drivers will be easier to find

AN ACT relating to local boards of education.

Amend KRS 160.180 to provide additional types of evidence permitted to document a board of education candidate's completion of twelfth grade; remove specifications for the topics of required trainings for board of education members. House Committee Substitute (1) Delete original provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to require local boards of education to adopt a code of ethics policy for board members; provide that the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) is responsible for investigating current board members for substantial code of ethics violations; direct the OEA to refer substantial violations of a board of education code of ethics policy to the Attorney General; require school board members with less than three years of consecutive service to receive three hours of finance training and one hour of superintendent evaluation training within the first three years of service; provide that board of education members may be removed from office for a violation of the board's code of ethics policy; make technical corrections. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except delete the requirement that local boards of education adopt a code of ethics policy for board members and all procedures related to the enforcement of those policies. Senate Floor Amendment (2) Retain original provisions and create new causes for board of education members to be subject to removal by the Attorney General; provide that the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) is responsible for investigating board members for allegations of designated conduct; require local board members to take one hour of open meetings and open records training within their first twelve months of service and once every four years thereafter; amend KRS 160.170 to amend the oath of office for local board of education members to be consistent with the requirements set forth in KRS 160.180.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/18/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

AN ACT relating to civic education.

Amend KRS 158.141 to require, beginning with the freshman class of 2025-2026, a one-half credit course in civic literacy for graduation, including early graduation; provide a list of required topics to be taught in a civic literacy course; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations establishing the academic standards for civic literacy. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except amend to allow two civics literacy options for high school graduation beginning with the 2025-2026 school year; a one-half credit in Civics Literacy or a score of 70 percent on a 100 question civics test; local school district to select the option.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/9/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/28/2024 - Proposal for enhanced civic education in Kentucky high schools sees final passage

3/22/2024 - Legislature takes action on nuclear energy, civics education among other things

3/21/2024 - Bill expanding civic literacy passes Senate committee

3/12/2024 - Proposal for enhanced civic education in Kentucky high schools passes House

3/5/2024 - Proposal for enhanced civic education in Kentucky high schools moves forward

2/27/2024 - Ky. bill would require public high school students to take civic education class

AN ACT relating to social studies curriculum.

Amend KRS 158.196 to require social studies instruction, materials, and academic standards to include the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the history of the United States and the Commonwealth.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/14/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to teachers.

Amend KRS 161.030 to remove the authority of the Education Professional Standards Board to require successful completion of assessments prior to certification; amend KRS 156.101, 161.048, and 161.053 to conform; repeal KRS 161.1222, relating to a pilot teacher program.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/15/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to education.

Amend KRS 156.690 to insert gender-neutral language.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/16/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to truancy.

Amend KRS 159.140 to require a director of pupil personnel to file with the county attorney a complaint against a parent or guardian who has allowed a child in kindergarten to grade five to be absent without excuse for 15 or more days; allow the director of pupil personnel, after consultation with the court designated worker, to refer the case to the family, accountability, intervention, and response team; amend KRS 610.030 to require that a diversion agreement for a child against whom a complaint alleging truancy has been filed shall require that if the child is absent without excuse two or more times during the diversion, the child will be considered to have failed diversion and the matter shall be immediately referred to the county attorney. House Floor Amendment (1) Retain original provisions; specify that if a child is absent from school without excuse 4 or more days while on diversion, the child will immediately be considered to have failed; require that a diversion agreement not exceed twelve months.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/10/2024 - BECAME LAW WITHOUT GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE

  NEWS STORIES

2/27/2024 - More Kentucky families would face court action for truancy under measure advanced in House

AN ACT relating to school district buildings.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 162 to allow school districts to issue general obligation bonds and obtain bank loans; amend KRS 160.160 require the approval of the Department of Education prior to a school district obtaining a bank loan or issuing general obligation bonds; require general obligation bonds to be entered into through advertising or competitive bidding; provide for the department to intercept funds for a payment due on a general obligation bond; make conforming amendments. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions; remove bank loan language throughout; amend KRS 66.011 to remove the exclusion of school districts from the definition of taxing district. House Floor Amendment (1) Amend to add language to suspend the requirement for prior approval for a local board to commence the funding, financing, design, construction, renovation, or modification of district facilities until June 30, 2027; require a local board to continue to submit BG-1 Project Application forms; ensure the Department of Education shall continue to have authority to intercede on bond payments; until June 30, 2027, provide for an expedited process for approval of district facility plans and the acquisition and disposal or property; require the department to provide assistance to districts upon request concerning facilities and properties procedures; ensure current applications are governed by the sections; include extracurricular facilities as facilities covered by the Act; declare that nothing in specified sections waive prior approval of ESSER funds or other federal funds for which federal law requires state authorization. House Floor Amendment (3) Amend to authorize the general issuance of bonds, provide for the issuance of bonds through KRS Chapter 66, remove a requirement that the bond issue be approved by the Kentucky Department of Education, and make technical changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/9/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

3/12/2024 - House pushes through 10 bills

AN ACT relating to educational neglect.

Amend KRS 600.020 to amend the definition of "abused and neglected child" to describe educational neglect; amend KRS 620.090 to require that a parent or guardian shall surrender public financial benefits received on behalf of the child when the child is placed outside the home due to educational neglect.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/29/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H)

AN ACT relating to internet safety instruction for children.

Amend KRS 156.675 to require school districts to implement social media safety mechanisms in internet access policies; require social media safety policies; require social media safety instruction for students in grades six through 12; allow parents or guardians to opt children out of social media safety instruction.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/1/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)

AN ACT relating to alternative teacher certification programs.

Amend KRS 161.048 to allow for alternative teacher certification through a state-approved local training program provided by a local district, group of districts, or educational cooperative; permit participation in the training program for those possessing a bachelor's or graduate degree, or working towards a degree in a program of study preparatory to teacher certification; require a bachelor's degree and a passing score in the content-area assessment prior to seeking certification; remove requirement of an offer of employment to participate in training program; define terms of eligibility for issuance of one year provisional certificate; amend KRS 161.049 and KRS 156.101 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to independent school districts.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 160 to establish definitions; establish a petition process for citizens of a qualifying city to place the question of creating a new independent district and local board of education within the boundaries of the city; establish the requirements for the question and the board of education provisional election; establish the initial terms of office for the interim board of education and subsequent terms; establish the transition of authorities from the originating school district board of education to the boards of both the altered originating school district and the new independent school district; require the Kentucky Department of Education to calculate assets and liabilities of the originating school district for division to the altered originating school district and the new independent school district; authorize the altered originating district to maintain control and use of assets until the scheduled transfer to the new independent district and authorize the continued payments of debts; establish a negotiation process between the altered originating district and the new independent district to resolve the division of the originating district's assets and liabilities; establish a deadline for the negotiation to conclude with an agreement; provide a process for resolution of disagreements; establish a penalty to the districts for unresolved disputes that continue past the deadline; establish a deadline for the transfer of all assets and debts; authorize the altered originating district to continue to assess and collect taxes for both districts until the close of the tax year in which the new independent district is fully operational; provide for the distribution of collected taxes during the transition period; require the mayor of the city to call the newly elected interim board of new independent district to meet; establish the agenda for the first meeting of the new interim board; allow the interim board to request assistance from the Kentucky Department of Education and require the commissioner of education to provide assistance; establish the transition process for the new independent district to become fully functional, including budgets and financial transfers during the transition; allow for the new independent district to request a waiver of the transition timeline from the commissioner of education; allow the interim board to submit a waiver request for a statute or administrative regulation to the Kentucky Board of Education, and establish the limits of any waiver; authorize the interim board to enter into service contracts with another school district during the transition; establish a process for the interim board to vote to terminate the establishment of the new independent district due to financial unviability during the transition; establish the transition from an interim board to a fully functional board of the new independent district; require the continued collection of taxes tied to the payment of debt or interest until the debt or interest is retired; waive the requirement for school based decision making for the first year of operations of the new independent district; require the interim board of the new independent district to develop, adopt, and maintain a transition plan and establish the requirements of the plan; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to establish a projection model for the first year of full operations of the new independent district and the altered originating district.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to school district employees.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to require the Department of Education to post school district employee salary information on the department's website annually.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to elementary literacy and making an appropriation therefor.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 171 establishing the Kids Love to Read Program; specify the program is for kindergarten through grade five children; require books be sent to children's homes; require the Department for Libraries and Archives to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to administer the program; appropriate $500,000 for fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026; APPROPRIATION.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to political spending by public school districts and declaring an emergency.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district, public school, or public charter school or educational cooperative from expending any money from whatever source to advocate for against any public question that appears on the ballot; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Introduced

AN ACT relating to the endowed research fund and making an appropriation therefor.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to establish the endowed research fund to be administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) for the purposes of funding research consortiums between two or more public universities; provide that the endowed research fund shall consist of appropriations, federal funds, and other proceeds made available to the fund; provide that the funds shall not lapse; provide that there shall be five consortium accounts within the endowed research fund that shall each be assigned to a unique research consortium selected by CPE; provide that CPE shall solicit, accept, and review applications from research consortiums between two or more public universities to determine five research consortiums eligible to review seed funding for a term of five years; create a review process to determine future eligibility for funding through the endowed research fund; direct CPE to fill vacancies when a research consortium is no longer eligible to receive funding through the endowed research fund; direct CPE to promulgate administrative regulations to administer this section; direct CPE to select the Kentucky Spinal Cord and Head Injury Research Trust as one of the initial five research consortiums by February 1, 2025; APPROPRIATION.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/4/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

  NEWS STORIES

4/15/2024 - Day 60, the final day of the Kentucky General Assembly, could still produce memorable votes

4/12/2024 - How Kentucky Democrats got a few bills - 7, in all - across the finish line this session

4/11/2024 - Kentucky CPE president keeping tabs on last two legislative days

4/10/2024 - Some states are cutting higher ed in rural areas. What if Kentucky tried the opposite?

3/25/2024 - Stivers’ research bill gains unanimous passage in committee

2/28/2024 - Research legislation unanimously approved in Senate

2/28/2024 - Kentucky Senate passes a top-priority bill to stimulate cutting-edge research at public universities

2/28/2024 - University research bill advances; has NKU, other regional schools in mind

2/26/2024 - Five bills to watch in Frankfort this week

2/22/2024 - Kentucky Senate panel advances bill to encourage cutting-edge research

2/22/2024 - Senate Bill 1 advances, proposes funding for collaborative university research

2/22/2024 - Stivers’ SB 1 to foster Ky university collaboration passes committee

2/9/2024 - Stivers wants to further explore a four-year university in Hazard, endow collaborative research

AN ACT relating to student safety.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; establish a framework for employment of Kentucky guardians in schools; specify qualifications of a guardian; specify that a local board of education may not be held liable for a guardian acting within his or her scope of duty; specify that guardians shall have the immunities of police officers; amend KRS 158.442 to require the Center for School Safety to implement a system to certify guardians to school districts and administer and oversee the school mapping program; amend KRS 158.441 to specify required certifications in the definition of "school resource officer"; amend 158.4414 to allow school districts to hire a guardian until a certified school resource officer is available as required; allow a district with a school resource officer to hire guardians to provide additional school safety and security measures; amend KRS 158.4416 to define terms; make conforming changes; require the trauma-informed team to compile their activities to be used in the creation of the comprehensive school improvement plan and submit the information to the Department of Education (KDE); require KDE to annually summarize and submit the information to the state board and the Legislative Research Commission; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require the department to gather and compile data, coordinate training, and monitor the numbers and types of mental health professionals in schools; amend KRS 158.443 to conform; amend KRS 158.4451 to require the Office of Homeland Security to maintain and update the anonymous reporting tool; specify that each school district shall make available an anonymous reporting tool; provide for an alternative anonymous reporting tool; amend KRS 156.095 to require schools to provide suicide prevention awareness twice a year and an opportunity for any student who missed the suicide prevention awareness lesson to receive the lesson at a later time; make conforming changes; amend KRS 158.162 to allow secondary locking mechanisms in schools; require school councils or principals to include school mapping data, if available, in their emergency plans; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to create the School Mapping Data Program administered by the Center for School Safety; outline requirements of school mapping data; amend KRS 158.4412 to require the local school district's safety coordinator to maintain a current copy of school mapping data; amend KRS 61.637 to 78.5540 to conform. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions; require additional training courses for a guardian; define "direct services" and indirect services; specify that at least 60% of a school couselor's time should be spent providing direct services. Senate Floor Amendment (2) Specify that no offense under KRS 510.148 is allowable for employment as a guardian. House Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions; require a veteran to provide a form DD 214; require local boards of education to adopt specified policies relating to guardians; amend KRS 158.442 to authorize the Center for School Safety to employ an individual to provide oversight of the guardian program; amend KRS 156.501 to remove existing cost-sharing provisions for the registered nurse required to be employed by the Kentucky Department of Education.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/10/2024 - BECAME LAW WITHOUT GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE

  NEWS STORIES

4/10/2024 - Beshear lets school ‘guardians’ bill become law without his signature

3/26/2024 - KY school safety bill would allow districts to hire ‘pastoral counselors’

3/26/2024 - Bill seeking to strengthen school safety in Kentucky clears House committee

3/26/2024 - Pastoral counselors added to school ‘guardian’ bill as it clears House committee

3/26/2024 - Kentucky schools could hire pastoral counselors under measure advanced in House committee

3/6/2024 - Kentucky 'guardian' bill clears Senate, aims to address SRO shortage

3/5/2024 - Kentucky Senate takes big steps on education, school safety in rapid fire session Tuesday

3/4/2024 - From U.S. senate vacancies to paid parental leave: Five bills to watch this week

2/25/2024 - Veterans, retired police could become armed school ‘guardians’ under Kentucky bill

2/23/2024 - Ky. senator wants to allow former military, federal agents to work security in schools

AN ACT relating to sick leave for members of the Teachers’ Retirement System and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 161.155 to specify that sick leave payments made to certified school employees who began participating in the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) prior to January 1, 2022, and who retire from TRS on or after July 1, 2024, shall be limited to the sick leave accrued by the employee as of June 30, 2024, plus no more than 10 additional sick leave days accrued each fiscal year thereafter; provide that the 10 additional days eligible for payment shall not include personal leave, emergency leave, or other forms of non-sick leave balances; require each school district to annually report sick leave balances to TRS beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 and specify contents of the report; amend KRS 161.152 and 161.154 to further clarify that emergency leave and personal leave shall not be converted to sick leave under KRS 161.155; amend KRS 161.400 to require TRS to annually report in the annual actuarial valuation the total liabilities and costs of the sick leave program created by KRS 161.155; amend KRS 161.623 to allow school districts to convert excess sick leave accrued annually in excess of 10 days specified by the bill to service credit in TRS the school district pays the cost of conversion; amend KRS 161.643 to include new sick leave reporting requirements in the annual statutory reporting requirements for TRS employers; provide that the Auditor of Public Accounts shall perform a special audit of the sick leave program to ensure sick leave balances are being reported correctly to TRS and specify that TRS shall pay the costs of the audit; EMERGENCY. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except amend KRS 161.155 remove changes that would have limited the amount of sick leave payments provided to teachers upon retirement and instead limit the amount of sick leave payments that are included in the retirement allowance of a Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) member who entered the system prior to January 1, 2022, and who retires from TRS on or after July 1, 2024, to the payment attributable to sick leave accrued by the employee as of June 30, 2024, plus no more than 10 additional sick leave days accrued each fiscal year thereafter; amend KRS 161.220 to conform to changes in KRS 161.155; amend KRS 161.370 to require the state auditor to include a review of the sick leave program to ensure the program is operating within statutory limitations and to ensure reporting requirements are being met; remove amendments to KRS 161.152 and 161.154 governing personal and emergency leave at local school districts; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2024 - (H) SECOND READING, to Rules

  NEWS STORIES

2/21/2024 - GOP bill would give Kentucky teachers 20 days of maternity leave

2/15/2024 - Senate passes bills aimed at teacher sick days, criminal justice issues

2/14/2024 - Despite bipartisan opposition, Senate passes bill changing sick-leave pay for teacher retirees

2/13/2024 - Education measures aim to protect students, certify more substitute teachers, examine funding

2/7/2024 - Sick days, substitutes are the subject of Kentucky bills clearing their first hurdles this week

2/7/2024 - Ky. lawmakers want to cut sick-day payouts teachers can count toward retirement

2/7/2024 - Republican-backed change to teacher pay for sick days forwarded by committee

AN ACT relating to postsecondary institutions.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; provide that a student or employee of a public postsecondary education institution shall not be penalized, discriminated against, or receive any adverse treatment due to the individual's refusal to support or endorse any divisive concept; provide that a student or employee of a public postsecondary education institution shall not be required to endorse a specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, promotion, or graduation and prohibit an institution from inquiring into the individual's political or social viewpoints; provide that any person aggrieved by a violation of this Act has a cause of action against the institution for damages and costs of no less than $1,000 and no more than $100,000 per violation; waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity; require the job duties of any individual employed in a diversity, equity, and inclusion role to include the promotion of intellectual diversity; provide that nothing in the section shall be interpreted to infringe upon designated rights of an institution's ability to comply with state or federal law or accreditation standards; require each public postsecondary education institution to conduct a survey in 2025 and 2027 of the institution's students and employees to assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents' comfort level in speaking freely on campus, regardless of political affiliation or ideology. Senate Committee Substitute (1) Retain original provisions, except change the term divisive concepts to discriminatory concepts; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from providing preferential or prejudicial consideration or treatment to an individual on the basis of the individual's actual or perceived political or social ideology; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from requiring a course that presents a discriminatory concepts as fact or otherwise advocates for any individual to assent to or support a discriminatory concepts as a prerequisite, program requirement, or general education course; establish requirements for new student orientation programs; require atleast 50% of diversity initiative employees' duties to be allocated to mentoring and providing academic coaching and related learning support activities necessary for the academic success of students who are eligible to receive a federal Pell grant; remove the private cause of action for a violation of this Act; authorize the Attorney General to bring a civil action for enforcement of this Act; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to require public postsecondary education institutions to publish designated course information to the institution's website; amend KRS 164.348 to conform. House Committee Substitute (1) Delete original provisions; create new sections of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual's religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from influencing the composition of the student body or scholarship recipients on the basis of religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from implementing a student housing assignment plan on the basis of religion, race, color, or national origin with designated exceptions; from expending any resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the promotion of discriminatory topics, or bias incident investigations; from soliciting statements on an applicant's experience with or views on religion, race, sex, color, or national origin; from requiring a course or training on diversity, equity, and inclusion or discriminatory concepts as a program requirement; or disseminating or profiting from any research, work product, or material that promotes or justifies discriminatory concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion; establish exclusions; require each governing board of a public postsecondary education institution to amend the institution's policy on nondiscrimination to include a clause on ideological neutrality that prohibits institutional discrimination on the basis of an individual's political or social ideology; prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from requiring or encouraging any individual to endorse or condemn a specific political or social ideology or from providing preferential or prejudicial consideration or treatment to an individual on the basis of that individual's actual or perceived political or social ideology; prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual's religion, race, sex, color, or national origin or from expending any resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion or discriminatory topics; establish exclusions for legal compliance; require each governing board of a public postsecondary education institution to ensure compliance with specific sections of this Act no later than June 30, 2024; authorize the Attorney General to bring an action for a writ of mandamus to compel the council or a public postsecondary education institution to comply; create a cause of action to permit a qualified individual to file a civil action against council or a public postsecondary education institution for injunctive relief and damages arising from a violation of this Act; waive sovereign and governmental immunity; prohibit retaliation; require each public postsecondary education institution to submit and publish a certified annual report on governmentally mandated discrimination to the Legislative Research Commission by October 1 each year; provide that a public postsecondary education institution or the council cannot claim a federal, state, judicial, contractual, or accreditation mandate as a defense to a civil action filed under this Act unless the policy, practice, or procedure upon which the complaint is founded is listed and clearly and accurately described in the public institution's annual report on governmentally mandated discrimination; require the council to develop and publish an annual assessment to evaluate intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity at public postsecondary education institutions; require each institution to annually distribute the assessment to all students, faculty, and staff and publish the results; require each public postsecondary education institution to provide the Personnel Cabinet and State Treasurer the name, job title, duty station, and salary or wages each month beginning January 1, 2025, and to post its itemized annual budget; amend KRS 164.020 to prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from approving a degree, certificate, or diploma program that includes discriminatory concepts or diversity, equity, and inclusion iniatives; direct the Council on Postsecondary Education to consider certain enumeratedconditions when considering the elimination of an existing program; direct each public postsecondary education institution and the Council on Postsecondary Education to discontinue designated programs and follow designated procedures when implementing this Act; provide specific instructions for public postsecondary education institutions and the Council on Postsecondary Education to follow in implementing this Act; direct public postsecondary education institutions and the council to submit a report on implementation of this Act; require public postsecondary education institutions to submit a series of reports on historical employment data for diversity, equity, and inclusion employees; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/15/2024 - (S) PLACED IN THE ORDERS OF THE DAY; for Concurrence or Nonconcurrence in House Committee Substitute (1)

  NEWS STORIES

4/15/2024 - Kentucky’s anti-DEI higher ed bill dies a second time

4/9/2024 - Child labor, drag and anti-DEI: Bills unlikely to make the cut in the Kentucky legislature

4/1/2024 - Kentucky legislature pauses for veto period: 5 takeaways from a busy legislative session

3/29/2024 - Anti-DEI bill fails to pass before veto period, unlikely to become law

3/29/2024 - College DEI programs survive as clock runs out on KY Republican supermajority

3/29/2024 - Kentucky's 'anti-DEI' bill appears dead after GOP lawmakers miss veto deadline

3/19/2024 - University of Louisville students protest anti-DEI policies moving in Kentucky statehouse

3/18/2024 - University of Louisville students hold demonstration against anti-DEI bills

3/17/2024 - House passes amended Senate bill targeting DEI on college campuses

3/15/2024 - Senate passes school funding amendment bill, Safer Kentucky Act

3/15/2024 - School choice approved while anti-DEI takes another step in Kentucky General Assembly

3/15/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers advance stricter version of anti-DEI bill. Here's what it would ban

3/15/2024 - GOP Kentucky House votes to defund diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities

3/15/2024 - With bill sponsor absent, House committee expands Senate curbs on diversity in higher education

3/15/2024 - One step closer: Bill banning DEI in Kentucky colleges nears final passage

3/15/2024 - KY university DEI policies are unconstitutional, GOP attorney general says

3/8/2024 - Anti-DEI bills raise concerns among NKU students, faculty

2/22/2024 - As Kentucky lawmakers go after college DEI, Black UK students share their own experiences

2/19/2024 - Several organizations sign letter opposing anti-DEI bills

2/19/2024 - With DEI under the microscope in Frankfort, University of Louisville president joins UK in issuing support for diversity

2/16/2024 - UK president to legislature: Proposed DEI, tenure legislation is ‘deeply concerning’

2/14/2024 - Anti-DEI bill passes Kentucky Senate

2/14/2024 - KY Democrats denounce ‘dangerously confused’ anti-DEI bill that passes Senate

2/14/2024 - 'We aren't always for diversity.' Kentucky Senate advances limits on DEI programs

2/14/2024 - University of Kentucky president says he opposes DEI, tenure legislation

2/14/2024 - UK president to legislature: Proposed DEI, tenure legislation is ‘deeply concerning’

2/14/2024 - Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives limited at Kentucky colleges under Senate bill

2/13/2024 - 'Diversity isn't always a good thing.' Kentucky Senate advances limits on DEI programs

2/13/2024 - Ky. Senate passes bill to limit DEI in higher education in the name of free speech

2/13/2024 - Poll finds majority of Kentucky voters think DEI should be left up to businesses, institutions

2/13/2024 - Educators concerned about bill to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

2/9/2024 - DEI, new degrees, tenure: What’s the status on higher education bills filed in Kentucky?

2/8/2024 - Conservative student testifies ‘I’m used to being in the minority’ as anti-diversity bill advances

2/8/2024 - Bill limiting DEI initiatives at Kentucky colleges amended to include free speech training

2/8/2024 - Anti-DEI bill clears KY Senate committee. Official testifies lawmakers misunderstand DEI

1/25/2024 - UK’s Eli Capilouto on ‘responsibility to advance Kentucky,’ DEI, health care, more

1/19/2024 - Proposed bill: No more DEI offices, ‘differential treatment’ of students at KY’s public colleges

1/17/2024 - Attica Scott enters primary race for Kentucky Senate

1/15/2024 - Diversity, tuition and AI: Lawmakers look to legislate higher education

1/11/2024 - Beshear touts rising college enrollments while making pitch for increased campus funding

1/11/2024 - Beshear: Legislation against diversity, inclusion a political ‘bogeyman’

1/6/2024 - Bill limiting college diversity initiatives filed in KY legislature

1/3/2024 - Ban on college diversity initiatives among bills proposed on KY legislature opening day

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League opposes legislation that is anti Diversity, Equity and Inclusion especially in educational institutions as it is dangerous to Kentucky's ever-growing and diverse population. We will monitor and collaborate with organizations to oppose this bill and those similar. We are asking our supporters to contact their legislators to share their support for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts throughout our state.

AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Board of Education.

Amend KRS 156.029 to provide that all 14 voting members of the Kentucky Board of Education are to be elected; create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to establish the process by which members of the Kentucky Board of Education are elected, including a partisan primary and partisan regular election; amend KRS 156.040 to add a requirement that members of the Kentucky Board of Education shall not have served on a local school board for at least four years preceding the year of their election; create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to establish the process for removal of a member of the Kentucky Board of Education; amend various KRS sections to conform; repeal KRS 156.031; establish a schedule for transitioning from appointed to elected members; allow appointees to continue to serve in accordance with their appointments until December 31, 2026; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2026. Senate Floor Amendment (1) Retain original provisions, except amend KRS 156.040 to change the requirements to run for the Kentucky Board of Education to allow candidates to qualify if they have an associate degree, technical degree, or an equivalent credential; require that candidates not be serving as a member of a local school board at the time they file nomination papers to run for the Kentucky Board of Education.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/8/2024 - (H) Referred to Committee House Education (H)

  NEWS STORIES

4/15/2024 - Kentucky legislature votes Monday to confirm new education commissioner

3/5/2024 - Kentucky Senate votes for partisan elections for state school board

2/29/2024 - Kentucky Board of Education could get partisan elections under bill moving in Senate

1/17/2024 - Kentucky Sen. Mike Wilson proposes 14-member, elected state school board

1/13/2024 - Proposed bill could force Kentucky Board of Education members to run under a political party

1/10/2024 - Republican bill would see voters, not governor, decide on KY Board of Education members

1/9/2024 - Kentucky Senate leader proposes partisan elections for state school board

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes SB8 as it is not a needed change due to the current requirements involving multiple demographics being reflective of Kentuckians to be included on the Kentucky Board of Education. We will continue to monitor and align with statements or actions against the bill.

AN ACT relating to school meals at low-income schools and making an appropriation therefor.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Proud School Match Program; direct the Department of Education to reimburse an eligible school district $0.33 for every meal reimbursed by the community eligibility provision at the paid rate; require a school district that receives a reimbursement to develop and implement a Kentucky Proud school plan to identify and purchase available Kentucky-grown agricultural products and to optimize food usage; direct the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out this section; provide that the section shall be null and void if the community eligibility provision is terminated by the United States Department of Agriculture; provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Proud School Match Act; APPROPRIATION.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/3/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S)

AN ACT relating to technology in education and declaring an emergency.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to make legislative findings and declarations and establish the Artificial Intelligence in Kentucky's Schools project, establish requirements for the Kentucky Department of Education to implement the project, require the department to design professional development trainings related to artificial intelligence, establish professional development requirement for teachers, administrators, school council members, and school board members, require the trainings be made available to nonpublic schools, require school districts to adopt policies and procedures related to artificial intelligence, require school districts to submit annual report to the department, allow nonpublic schools to voluntarily submit a report, require the department to compile the individual reports and submit a statewide report to the Interim Joint Committee on Education and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to make legislative findings and declarations and establish the Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education project, require the Council on Postsecondary Education to establish an Artificial Intelligence Working Group to provide advice and information to the state's postsecondary institutions, establish membership of working group, require the council to develop guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in postsecondary education, require each public postsecondary institution and each institution licensed by the council to establish institution-level working groups to develop recommendations for the institution's governing board related to artificial intelligence, require institutions to adopt artificial intelligence policies, require each public postsecondary institution and each institution licensed by the council to submit an annual report to the council on artificial intelligence, require the council to compile the individual reports and submit a statewide report to the Interim Joint Committee on Education and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee; amend KRS 156.660 to include computer programming and artificial intelligence in the definition of "technology"; amend KRS 156.670 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish a Council for Education Technology to assist in development of the education technology master plan, establish membership requirements of the council, require the council to assist the department in development of the plan and the approved plan be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission, require the five year plan to include guidelines for the implementation and use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence at both the state and district levels, require the council to develop recommendations related to emerging technology like artificial intelligence, including recommendations related to academic standards and teacher preparation program standards, and submit those to the Kentucky Board of Education or the Education Professional Standards Board; create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to require the Kentucky Board of Education to establish academic standards related to instruction of computer science that address emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop guidelines to assist school districts and schools in developing curriculum to implement the academic standards; amend KRS 161.028 to require the Education Professional Standards Board to set standards for education preparation programs that address the use of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence; amend KRS 157.615 to conform; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/3/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

  NEWS STORIES

1/8/2024 - Lexington senator proposes guardrails for AI use in schools

1/5/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers asked to consider school monitoring of AI technologies

AN ACT relating to the transportation of students and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 156.153 to permit school districts to use district-owned and district-leased passenger transportation vehicles to transport students to and from school under an alternative transportation plan approved by the Kentucky Department of Education; provide that vehicles shall be operated by an employee of local school district that is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within the Commonwealth; provide that the Kentucky Department of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations to establish minimum standards and specifications for an alternative transportation plan; amend KRS 160.380 to require the driver of any non-school bus passenger vehicle authorized to transport students to and from school pursuant to the alternative transportation plan submit to an annual national and state criminal background check and clear CA/N check; amend KRS 156.990 to provide that an individual who operates a school bus or other district-owned or district-leased vehicle to transport a student or students without a valid, active license to operate that motor vehicle within the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class D felony; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/11/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Transportation (S)

  NEWS STORIES

2/27/2024 - Kentucky lawmakers hope school ‘van’ drivers will be easier to find

1/30/2024 - Democrats file bill to improve student transportation

1/30/2024 - Bill would allow Kentucky public school employees to drive students to and from school in passenger vehicles

1/29/2024 - Plan introduced to cut time Kentucky students spend riding school buses

1/29/2024 - Democratic lawmaker promotes bill aimed at improving student transportation across Kentucky

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports bills that will make it easier for school districts to facilitate transporting students safely. We will continue to monitor and support the progress of this bill and asking that our supporters do the same.

AN ACT relating to education.

Amend KRS 161.164 to prohibit that a local school district or public charter school from requiring a statement, pledge, or oath, other than to uphold general and federal law, the United States Constitution, and the Constitution of Kentucky, as a part of any recruitment, hiring, employment, promotion, disciplinary, or evaluation process; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to define terms; prohibit public school districts and schools from expending any resources or funds to purchase membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion; to prohibit public school districts and schools from expending any resources or funds on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging or political or social activism; prohibit public school districts from engaging in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; provide a limited exception for compliance with state or federal law; amend KRS 158.4416 to strike all references to trauma-informed approach; amend KRS 158.4414 to conform.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/11/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

  NEWS STORIES

3/13/2024 - JCPS students rally at Capitol over CROWN Act, Black Student Union bills

2/19/2024 - Several organizations sign letter opposing anti-DEI bills

2/14/2024 - KY Democrats denounce ‘dangerously confused’ anti-DEI bill that passes Senate

2/8/2024 - Anti-DEI bill clears KY Senate committee. Official testifies lawmakers misunderstand DEI

1/19/2024 - Proposed bill: No more DEI offices, ‘differential treatment’ of students at KY’s public colleges

1/11/2024 - Beshear: Legislation against diversity, inclusion a political ‘bogeyman’

1/10/2024 - DEI efforts in Ky. K-12 schools at risk under proposed legislation

1/8/2024 - A second Kentucky bill takes aim at diversity programs — this time in K-12 schools

COMMENTS

Louisville Urban League opposes legislation that is anti Diversity, Equity and Inclusion especially in educational institutions as it is dangerous to Kentucky's ever-growing and diverse population. We will monitor and collaborate with organizations to oppose this bill and those similar. We are asking our supporters to contact their legislators to share their testimonies of success from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and stay engaged with our social media for further action around this bill.

AN ACT relating to lactating students.

Create new sections of KRS Chapters 158 and 164 to require public schools, public charter schools, and public postsecondary institutions to provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating student; set forth the minimum requirements for those reasonable accommodations; require public schools, public charter schools, and public postsecondary institutions to provide lactating students a reasonable amount of time to express breast milk or breastfeed without incurring an academic penalty.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/10/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports SB95 as it would remove barriers for students who lactate and need accommodations to be most successful in school. We will be monitoring this bill and its progress.

AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Board of Education.

Amend KRS 156.029 to change the public high school nonvoting student member to a voting member of the Kentucky Board of Education; add an at-large member to the board; require at least two of the members to have a child enrolled in public school; amend KRS 156.040 to exclude the student member from the age and college degree requirements.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/11/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

AN ACT relating to Kentucky educational excellence scholarships and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 164.7879 to increase the Kentucky educational excellence scholarship base amount for each eligible grade point average; increase the supplemental award amounts; require a supplemental award for eligible Cambridge Advanced International scores; increase the award amount for an eligible student enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program; amend KRS 164.7874, 164.7881, 164.7884, and 164.7885 to conform; EMERGENCY.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/18/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S)

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League supports SB 109 because it will improve access to higher education by increasing KEES stipends for eligible GPAS and ACT scores.

AN ACT relating to concealed deadly weapons.

Amend KRS 527.070 to modify the types of school facilities where weapons are prohibited; state that the prohibition of weapons on school grounds only applies when entrances to the school buildings display a sign indicating that unlawfully possessing a weapon in a school is a felony; remove the requirement that signs be prominently displayed indicating possessing a weapon in a school is prohibited; remove the provision that failure to post the signs indicating weapons are prohibited in schools shall not relieve a person of liability.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2024 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Education (S)

COMMENTS

The Louisville Urban League opposes SB114. We believe the state legislature should be taking steps to address gun control.

AN ACT relating to early childhood education.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to require the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to offer an associate degree program in interdisciplinary early childhood education entrepreneurship; create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 to establish the Division of Regulated Early Childhood Education within the Office of Inspector General within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; establish the Division of Early Childhood Education within the Department for Community Based Services within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; amend KRS 164.787 to change the definition of "eligible program of study"; create new sections of KRS Chapter 199 to create definitions, establish the innovations in early childhood education delivery fund, the foundations for early learning fund, the family early childhood educator provider fund, and the early childhood education provider start up fund; establish the requirements and operations of the funds for the purpose of offering grants to applicants for the purpose of increasing the availability of early childhood education services in the Commonwealth; amend KRS 199.894 to define "Child Care and Development Fund" and "Child Care Assistance Program"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 to establish eligibility requirements of the Child Care Assistance Program; amend KRS 199.8983 and 12.020 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as the Horizons Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/28/2024 - (S) recommitted to committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S)

  NEWS STORIES

4/16/2024 - Some controversial bills die as Kentucky legislature end latest session

3/27/2024 - ‘A shame:’ $300 million Horizons Act is ‘dead,’ sponsor says

3/21/2024 - As legislature heads into home stretch, here’s some of what remains to be done

3/12/2024 - Kentucky legislature discussing bill to aid childcare programs

2/27/2024 - Child Care Package Moves to Senate Floor

2/21/2024 - Carroll's Horizons Act aims to advance early childhood education

2/20/2024 - Lawmakers pitched on economic, educational value of increasing state support for child care

2/20/2024 - Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Child Care Package

2/14/2024 - GOP senator wants to invest $300 million into Kentucky early childhood education

2/13/2024 - 'Horizons Bill' unveiled to stem crisis in Kentucky's child care industry

2/13/2024 - Carroll unveils $300 million early childhood education bill

2/13/2024 - Sweeping bill would expand childcare and early childhood education in Kentucky

2/13/2024 - Kentucky Republican proposes up to $300 million to support child care centers